Slide lock attachment system

Abstract

An attachment system connects an object such as a windshield to a vehicle pillar. The attachment system includes a front extrusion connectable to the vehicle pillar and including a connecting member, and a mating extrusion connectable to the vehicle pillar and including a coupling member cooperable with the connecting member. A pocket is machined into one of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion, and a latch is coupled with the other of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion. The front extrusion and the mating extrusion are connectable in an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein in the unlocked position, the connecting member is engaged with the coupling member with the latch displaced from the pocket, and in the locked position, the connecting member is engaged with the coupling member with the latch in alignment and engaged with the pocket.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An attachment system that connects an object to a vehicle pillar, the attachment system comprising:
 a front extrusion connectable to one side of the vehicle pillar, the front extrusion including a connecting tongue or groove; 
 a mating extrusion connectable to an opposite side of the vehicle pillar and to the front extrusion such that the front extrusion and the mating extrusion are connectable to surround the vehicle pillar, the mating extrusion including a connecting groove or tongue that is engageable with the connecting tongue or groove of the front extrusion, respectively; 
 a pocket machined into one of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion; and 
 a latch coupled with the other of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion and engageable with the pocket when the front extrusion and the mating extrusion are oriented in a locked position. 
 
     
     
       2. An attachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is machined into the one of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion that includes the connecting tongue. 
     
     
       3. An attachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the front extrusion and the mating extrusion are cooperable between an unlocked position and the locked position, wherein in the unlocked position, the connecting tongue or groove of the front extrusion is engaged with the corresponding groove or tongue of the mating extrusion with the latch displaced from the pocket, and in the locked position, the connecting tongue or groove of the front extrusion is engaged with the connecting groove or tongue of the mating extrusion with the latch in alignment and engaged with the pocket. 
     
     
       4. An attachment system according to  claim 3 , wherein the latch is biased closed by a spring, and wherein the latch is configured to automatically lock into the pocket when the mating extrusion is slid from the unlocked position to the locked position. 
     
     
       5. An attachment system according to  claim 3 , wherein the front extrusion comprises the connecting tongue, and wherein the mating extrusion comprises the connecting groove. 
     
     
       6. An attachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is a vehicle windshield, and wherein the front extrusion comprises a groove that receives the windshield. 
     
     
       7. An attachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the latch is biased closed by a spring. 
     
     
       8. An attachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the front extrusion is snapped onto the pillar. 
     
     
       9. An attachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the front extrusion and the mating extrusion are formed of aluminum. 
     
     
       10. An attachment system that connects an object to a vehicle pillar, the attachment system comprising:
 a front extrusion connectable to one side of the vehicle pillar, the front extrusion including a connecting member; 
 a mating extrusion connectable to an opposite side of the vehicle pillar and to the front extrusion, the mating extrusion including a coupling member cooperable with the connecting member of the front extrusion, wherein the front extrusion and the mating extrusion are connectable completely around the vehicle pillar; 
 a pocket machined into one of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion; and 
 a latch coupled with the other of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion, 
 wherein the front extrusion and the mating extrusion are connectable in an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein in the unlocked position, the connecting member is engaged with the coupling member with the latch displaced from the pocket, and in the locked position, the connecting member is engaged with the coupling member with the latch in alignment and engaged with the pocket. 
 
     
     
       11. An attachment system according to  claim 10 , wherein the latch is biased closed by a spring, and wherein the latch is configured to automatically lock into the pocket when the mating extrusion is slid from the unlocked position to the locked position. 
     
     
       12. An attachment system according to  claim 10 , wherein the object is a vehicle windshield, and wherein the front extrusion comprises a groove that receives the windshield. 
     
     
       13. An attachment system according to  claim 10 , wherein the front extrusion is snapped onto the pillar. 
     
     
       14. An attachment system according to  claim 10 , wherein the front extrusion and the mating extrusion are formed of aluminum. 
     
     
       15. A method for connecting an attachment system to a vehicle pillar, the method comprising:
 securing a front extrusion to one side of the vehicle pillar; 
 connecting a mating extrusion to an opposite side of the vehicle pillar and to the front extrusion with the vehicle pillar interposed between the front extrusion and the mating extrusion, the front extrusion and the mating extrusion being connected in an unlocked position; and 
 sliding the mating extrusion relative to the front extrusion into a locked position wherein a latch coupled with one of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion engages a pocket machined into the other of the front extrusion and the mating extrusion. 
 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the securing step is practiced by snapping the front extrusion into engagement with the vehicle pillar. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the latch is biased closed by a spring, and wherein the sliding step comprises automatically locking the latch into the pocket when the mating extrusion is slid from the unlocked position to the locked position.